Postmodernism 1-2

Postmodernism

Updated version

Theoretical approach that started in 1980 is. Difficult to define because it is a cluster of many ideas. Question the dominating nature of Science and reason and focuses on questioning truth and objectivity of anthropology as a science and general science as well. Against grand narratives and theories.
It was a challenge to the modernist themes which started during the enlightenment era. it can be traced to Nietzsche who said that truths are illusions about which one has forgotten that they are illusions. Tooth was an army of metaphors and anthropomorphism that people started to believe as canonical and obligate tree. this scepticism about truth was followed by Nietzsche to Max Weber to Sigmund Freud and Jaques Derrida.

buy 1970 and 80s anthropologists like Rabinow started to doubt field work and its validity and how they were engaged in writing culture. Deep scepticism about whether the investigator could adequately effectively and honestly investigate and explain through social knowledge.

Kuznar 2008 lists basic tenets of postmodernist movement

Elevation of text and language as fundamental phenomena of existence
Applying literary analysis to all phenomena
Questioning reality and representation
Critique of metanarratives
Argument against method and evaluation
Focus on power and hegemoney
Critic off Western institutions and knowledge.

Features

we interpret the world around us according to our own language culture and experience therefore it is impossible to stay objective. Therefore ethnography is always biased.
We legitimize representations and ideas of privileged political and economic groups and reduces our sensitivity towards underrepresented views like minorities women third world and so on.
focused on the role of individual behaviour in shaping culture also known as agency theory.
cultural relativism is there method of enquiry. Scepticism towards objectivity and universal validity of Science and anthropological studies. Rejection of brand universal schemes. Emphasis on opinions and perspectives of the people being studied. As per Barrett, Spiro and Lewis 1996.
Poststructuralist like peer boddu are disenchanted with static mechanical and controlling models of culture and instead privilege social process and individual agency in their models.
Postprocessualim in archaeology argue that past is not as objective as it is represented and we represent it from our socio-political stand points. Harris 1999.

Proponents

Clifford geertz Michel foucault J derrida ian hodder.
Derrida. Study the relationship of meaning between text. Questioned reasoning behind reasoning itself.
M Foucault. French philosopher who argued that - what most people think of as the permanent truth of human nature and Society actually changes throughout the course of history. everyday practices enable people to define their identities and systemize their knowledge. he upset the conventional understanding of history as a chronology of inevitable facts. he defeated history as existing under layers of suppressed and unconscious knowledge in and throughout history. history is manipulated by the powerful to create their own narrative. power is embedded in everyday life and even small things that we do. Power can be used to regulate social hierarchy is and structures by controlling knowledge truth and socially accepted reality.

Clifford geertz. Thick description and subjective interpretation of social phenomena.
Ian Hodder. Archaeology. argued that material culture is not merely reflection of socio political organisation but also an active element that can be used to disguise invert and distort social relations.
Nancy Hughes. if we cannot begin to think about social institutions and practices in moral and ethical terms than Anthropology strikes me as quite weak and useless. She advocates that graphy be used as tools for critical reflection and human liberation because ethics make culture possible. Ethics cannot be culturally bound is argued by anthropologists of the past. Anthropologists should have influenced critical historical moments.

Criticism

It it is extremely relativist view of anthropology and Science which destroys any common ground of understanding. Creates nihilism. Also undermine universal human rights and justify dictatorship.
Some solace that it is egoistic and eccentric view and some call it as fascist.
delay on model model rather than empirical data on scientific methods.
R D'andrade rights that postmodernist definition of objectivity and subjectivity e e e is based on moral nature of their models and these models are purely subjective. Although value free objectivity is impossible it is the global of anthropologist to get as close as possible. Objectivity is not dehumanising and neither is it impossible. Accounts of Science and anthropology may not be perfectly objective but they are objective enough to be proved aur disproved.
Patricia Greenfield believe that postmodernism lacks objectivity E and its tendency to push political agenda makes it virtually useless for scientific investigation.
Rosneau points 7 contradictions ine postmodernism

their anti theoretical position which is essentially a theoretical stand
They use reason to to stress irrationality
Therefore case on marginal is itself an emphasis that day seek to to attack
Distress inter textuality but often treat text in isolation
They reject modern criteria for assessing theory therefore using it as a criteria for their arguments
They are inconsistent but they criticize the inconsistency of modernism.
Contradict themselves by relinquishing truth claims in their own writings

Sahlins criticize their obsession with power.
Spiro rejects assumption that disciplines that study humanity like Anthropology cannot be scientific because they have subjectivity and therefore observers are incapable of discovering the truth.

Key concepts

culture. They think culture is increasingly becoming unfocused and lacks in scientific credentials. DAV leave culture is relative district and western concept cannot be used to define non Western people.
Lament. Wilce 2005 argued that the practice of ritualized weeping was being forced out to modernity and claims that it was a backwards practice that needs to be stopped.
Metanarratives like enlightenment Marxism or American dream r unfair generalizations about the state of humanity and historical process.
Polyvocality. there exists multiple legitimate versions of reality or truth from different perspectives. enlightenment rationalism and scientific positivism impose hegemonic values and political control on the world. They challenge the authority of anthropologist and western intellectuals and help weaker peoples.
Scepticism about anthropological observer. Sceptic postmodernist reject theory because theories concealed start and obfuscate, and it is alienated and dissonant which excludes and controls rival powers.
affirmative postmodernists do not completely reject theory but argue that it should be transformed and support movements like piece environment and feminism.

Methods

Rejected methods and methodology.
deconstruction. Deconstruct the text by revealing their internal arbitrary hierarchies and presuppositions. Try to assess what it does not say and find incongruities.

Roneau gave some guidelines.
Find exception to the generalization and use it to undermine the principal. Interpret the arguments in their most extreme form. Avoid absolute statements and make sensational statements. deny the legitimacy of dichotomy because there are always exceptions. Reject or accept nothing that way argument cannot be criticized if there is no clear viewpoint. Create new terminologies and don't change them.

Old version

As a reaction to modernism. Rationality e logic reasoning finding the truth with major figures like Nietzsche Sigmund Freud David Hume. Modern thinkers chomsky and Anthony giddens.
believe that reality is always incomprehensible and truth is socially constructed and ever dynamic in nature.
destroying boundaries of social political economic borders. Believe that ethics and morality are individual based.
Everyone constructs their own reality and there is no reality but 800 of subjective realities. Not convinced with objectivity of science. It argues that facts can be e interpreted in multiple of ways.
no fixed human nature and everyone is trying to receive acceptance and acknowledgement in society.
Post structuralist sawar derrida, lyotard and Pierre bourdieu.
Lyotard. Postmodern condition 1979. Introduced the term post-modern. Rejected grand theories and metanarratives. Start understanding local narratives. Specific.
Criticism. Shook the foundations of Western world. Chomsky and giddens dismiss it as wake and worthless.

Dennett believes postmodernism creates multiple interpretations of single phenomena leading to confusion and absurdities.
Does not add value to the analysis.